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Colchester: Tory calls for rail shake-up
12:08pm Monday 14th May 2007
Comments (9)Cash from rail fare hikes should be spent on extra carriages to ease overcrowding for commuters, according to the shadow transport secretary.
Conservative Chris Grayling said packed trains were "an absolutely critical issue" with the town's population set to soar in the next decade.
And he called for more services to Colchester Town and Hythe stations, to help beat road congestion.
Mr Grayling was in Colchester to meet rail chiefs at North Station on Friday, and was briefed on transport issues by Tories at the town hall.
He told the Gazette: "Overcrowding on rush-hour services is already a big problem and looking at housing development planned in the next seven years, we have got to deliver extra capacity. We need longer trains and longer platforms.
"The money is there to do it because the Government is getting billions of pounds extra back from train companies, paid for by higher fares. That money should be used for investment."
Derek Monnery, chairman of the Essex Rail Users' Federation, said Mr Grayling was right to call for cash from train fare hikes to go towards service improvements.
He added: "I'm still slightly sceptical about Mr Grayling's comments - because the Conservatives wrecked the railways in the first place!"
Your Say YourGazette
June, Colchester says...
1:23pm Mon 14 May 07
Could One Railway explain why this early train nearly always has THREE first class carriages on a Monday? Its not necessary to have three first class on any day of the week, especially on Mondays when there seems to be more early moring commuters.
Its an absolute disgrace.
It they were to ask their staff I'm sure they would tell them the same.
TJ, says...
1:35pm Mon 14 May 07
Karen Hammond, Wivenhoe says...
1:37pm Mon 14 May 07
Mike Freeman, Wivenhoe says...
7:53pm Mon 14 May 07
Still, nothing will be done about overcrowded schools, hospitals, roads, buses and trains. That costs money and there is none spare because every possible revenue stream has been directed into private hands. So everything is done for minimal outlay and maximum profit.
There, a little lesson in why this country is in the unholy mess it is.
Get used to it. Nothing is going to change.
One thought. If everything has been privatised. Why are we paying more tax than ever before? Wasn't that the carrot that was dangled. Private enterprise would reduce the tax burden. Surely we weren't lied to by successive governments?
Mike Freeman, Wivenhoe says...
7:55pm Mon 14 May 07
Still, nothing will be done about overcrowded schools, hospitals, roads, buses and trains. That costs money and there is none spare because every possible revenue stream has been directed into private hands. So everything is done for minimal outlay and maximum profit.
There, a little lesson in why this country is in the unholy mess it is.
Get used to it. Nothing is going to change.
One thought. If everything has been privatised. Why are we paying more tax than ever before? Wasn't that the carrot that was dangled. Private enterprise would reduce the tax burden. Surely we weren't lied to by successive governments?
Martin Taylor, Weeley says...
10:45pm Mon 14 May 07
On a second point, I am a salesman who is fed up with driving and would like to take the train more often. Unfortunatly the reality of the cost of train travel and the extraordinary cost of parking makes it uneconomical to use the train over the car and parking in London. Added to this the fact that over half the time I have to pay for the privilage of standing all the way in!
These numbers just don't make sense in a "Green" aware world.
Citizen 139, says...
10:56am Tue 15 May 07
Ian, The Sunshine Coast says...
5:29pm Tue 15 May 07
Fact-finding - Chris Grayling visits Colchester station, with Andrew Chivers, Jill Skalla and Andrew Goodrum. Picture: SEANA HUGHES (55953-c)
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Malcolm, colchester says...
1:06pm Mon 14 May 07